Daimler Truck AG announced its first quarter earnings Thursday, with sales and revenue totals down year over year due to uncertain economic footing.
Daimler states revenues were down 7% globally and in North America in the first quarter when compared to the same period in 2024. Unit sales were off 8% globally and 16% in North America, but adjusted return on sale was up nominally, which CFO Eva Scherer attributes to global corporate resiliency.
“Our performance in the first quarter reflects our improved resilience and underscores the commitment of our global team,” she says. “Our focus remains on our measures to structurally improve our business, reduce volatility and enhance cash generation and return on capital.”
Daimler’s overall revenue in Q1 was €11.6 billion, down from €12.5 billion in 2024. In North America, revenue was $5.4 billion, down from almost $5.8 billion in 2024. The latter saw units fall from 46,229 in 2024 to 38,992 in 2025, with orders also down 29% year over year. The falling orders “reflect the customers’ reaction to the growing uncertainties in North America,” the group says.
Daimler also has reduced its outlook for 2025 as a result, moving its volume guidance for the Class 8 North American market to 260,000 to 290,000 units from its previous position of 280,000 to 320,000 units. For the DTNA segment, the group now expects a sales volume of 155,000 to 175,000 units (previously 180,000 to 200,000 units). This assumes increasing customer confidence and order behavior from current low levels, Daimler adds.
“Due to the growing economic uncertainty and the resulting pressure on demand in the U.S., we reduced our sales outlook for the full year, while keeping our margin guidance unchanged — both for North America and for our Industrial Business — a testament of our increased strength,” Scherer says.
Despite the reduced unit sales volume, profitability of DTNA for the full year is still expected in the range between 11% and 13%, underlining the strong resilience of the North American business. As a result of the uncertainty surrounding the macroeconomic situation in North America and the resulting negative impact on cost of risk, Daimler Truck states it is revising the full-year outlook for the adjusted ROE (Return on Equity) of Financial Services to 6% to 8% (previously 8% - 10%). For all other segments, the full-year guidance for 2025 remains unchanged.
Overall, the group still expects an operationally stable 2025 compared to 2024 with an adjusted return on sales for the industrial business between 8% and 10%.
“The updated outlook for the financial year 2025 is subject to further macroeconomic and geopolitical developments,” the group adds. “It is based on the assumption that Daimler Truck can continue to operate under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Further potential financial implications from the ongoing discussions on the China business are not included.”
